A Lake District cricket club has been given the go-ahead to sell alcohol in a bid to safeguard its future.
Members of the licensing sub-committee for Westmorland and Furness Council granted a premises licence to Coniston Cricket Club.
The club has been granted a licence to sell alcohol from 11am to 11pm every day and has been allowed to be open to the public until 11.30pm.
On New Year’s Eve the club will be allowed to serve alcohol until 2am and stay open until 2.30am.
To minimise noise, the club will keep all doors and windows closed after 10pm, carry out regular site walks and place posters up asking people to leave the site quietly and respect the neighbours.
In a document prepared ahead of the meeting, the club state: “We do not plan to have regular events and music nights but would like to have the option for one offs and local events in order to raise funds for the cricket team.”
On behalf of the club, Rebecca McCormick told the committee the club was a not-for-profit business and added: “We just want to be there for everyone for as long as possible and this is the only way we see to do it.”
Robert Warne, a representative from the club, said: “It’s just to make it a sustainable asset for the village, that’s what we’re looking to do.
“We run a voluntary children’s activity and for a small village like Coniston it’s the last one.
“We’re just trying to keep junior activities in the village for as long as possible and it’s just helping the running costs.”
Committee members were told the club attracts 15 to 20 people for games and the club serves teas which consists of scones and sandwiches.
Members of the licensing sub-committee heard the club will only be selling pre-packaged items.
Ms McCormick said: “Instead of people bringing their own, we’ll regulate it. We’ve put CCTV in place to make it as safe as possible and to provide as much proof of what’s happening as possible.”
The club initially applied for a licence to supply alcohol until midnight on Mondays to Thursdays and Sundays and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays but the sub-committee deemed it excessive and gave weight to representations made.
Coniston Parish Council said it was supportive of the club being awarded a licence to sell alcohol until 11pm but added after that time it would be a public nuisance.
The parish council added: “Any noise travels far in a quiet village setting but music and or the noise of sociable drinking to 1am or beyond would be a real problem for residents and visitors alike.”
